The Inpeng Ethnic Culture Park traditional boat racing festival is underway near the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge from September 19-25 with the finals set for this weekend.
The Vientiane Education and Sports Department will then invite the winner of the 55 rower event to compete in a Laos-Thailand friendly boat race in Nong Khai province, Thailand next month.
Currently, many boat racing teams are paddling hard in the Mekong at Hadxaifong district, Vientiane aiming to compete in the weekend’s finals.
The Vientiane Education and Sports Department held a press conference at Inpeng Ethnic Culture Park on Tuesday to announce the teams competing and the draw in the two different race categories.
Nine teams are competing in the traditional 55 rower event divided into two groups. Group A contains Navasaksith, Sengpheth Bridge-Road Construction, Nang Sao Laokham and Chaomae Pakaisith with group B made up of Phonephrakao, Development Bank, Nang Sao Bounleuth, Nang Sao Yothkham and Thebthidasoyfa teams.
Meanwhile 16 teams are taking par t in the 12 rower event divided into four groups. Group A comprises Vientiane, Phetnamxok, Phixitxay, and Yotkhamlay with group B being Navasaksith, Thebphanakone, Phayahaodong and Huayleksam A; group C is Thidanoy, Huayleksam B, Kaythong and Thidakaykeo while group D contains Phayanakkhalath, Thebsamkoutti, Ammalin and Phonephathat. The final races are on this Sunday from 8am to 4pm, with a prize of 10 million kip and a silver trophy going to the winning team with 55 rowers, with 8 million kip and a silver trophy going to the second placed team, 7 million kip and a silver trophy for coming third, while fourth and fifth placed teams will receive 6 million and 5 million kip respectively.
The winning 12 rower team will receive 3 million kip and a trophy while 2.5 million kip will go to the second placed team, 2 million kip for third and 1 million for the fourth.
Following the event many teams will prepare for the nation’s biggest boat racing festival on the Mekong River at Done Chan in Chanthabouly district, Vientiane next month.
During the press conference, senior official from the Vientiane Education and Sports Department Mr. Kongkeo Hengdavongxay urged teams to strive for their best while respecting the competition rules.
Source: Vientiane Times
